Sierra Nevada Releases the 2024 Edition of Celebration Fresh Hop IPA
It’s that time of year when winter seasonal beers begin arriving on store shelves and one that we are excited for each year is now arriving across the Pacific Northwest and beyond! Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. has officially launched the 2024 release of its coveted Celebration Fresh Hop IPA.
Each year when hop harvest takes place, Sierra Nevada brewers visit the hop fields across the Pacific Northwest to select the finest freshly picked hops to brew the year’s Celebration Fresh Hop IPA. Brewed with the classic C-Hops – Cascade, Centennial and Chinook – this beer never disappoints and is one that craft beers fans seek out each fall and early winter season!
“Freshly harvested hops have an unbeatable depth of aroma and flavor and that’s part of what makes Celebration so special,” said Brian Grossman, Chief Brewer and second-generation brewery owner at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. “It starts at the hop farms each year when members of the brewing team make the trek to the Pacific Northwest to hand-select lots of whole-cone Cascade, Centennial and Chinook. The select lots are then expedited to the brewery to begin brewing Celebration as soon as possible. It’s important to capture the freshness of the season’s hop harvest, an iconic characteristic of the beer. The whole process is a tradition that my father started decades ago, and we’re proud to continue.“
Celebration Fresh Hop IPA dates back some 43 years to 1981, released annually between the end of hop harvest season and the beginning of the holiday season in the US. Hop-forward flavors and aromas are always part of the profile of Celebration Fresh Hop IPA, that is brewed to be well-balanced with the slight biscuity sweetness of caramel malt. It clocks in at 6.8% ABV, 65 IBU, and 223 calories.
“When we start brewing and pouring the first pints of the beer in our Taproom there’s a palpable sense of excitement and celebration among the brewery team. In that way, Celebration Fresh Hop IPA truly lives up to its name,” said Grossman.
Celebration Fresh Hop IPA began shipping to wholesalers in mid-October and is already hitting store shelves. It is available on draft and packaged in 6-and 12-packs of 12-ounce cans, with limited availability of 12-pack bottles sold in select markets. As the style name alludes, a Fresh Hop IPA is recommended to be enjoyed during the same season in which it was produced to experience the full depth of flavor and aroma that the brewers intended.
Western North Carolina Recovery Efforts
Sierra Nevada has announced support of the long-term recovery of the craft beer industry in Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene, which hit the region in late September. This year, the company will donate $1 of every barrel brewed of Celebration Fresh Hop IPA to the newly formed NC Craft Brewers Foundation, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to the growth and resilience of Western North Carolina’s craft brewing community. The company has encouraged its wholesaler and retailer partners to contribute to the effort, as well. The brewery is also supporting immediate community food needs in the region through contributions to MANNA FoodBank and Food Connection.
“We know that it takes all members of a community, supporting how they can after a disaster,” said Chief Sustainability and Social Impact Officer Mandi McKay. “We appreciate that we can contribute to our Western North Carolina community in the wake of Hurricane Helene.”
Learn more about Sierra Nevada’s efforts and contributions following Hurricane Helene’s impact in Western North Carolina.
About The Author
DJ
D.J. is a Portland, Oregon based writer that spent his formative years in the Midwest. With over 25 years under his belt of drinking beer at festivals across America and the world, he has developed a strong appreciation and understanding of craft beer and the industry that surrounds it. He can be found in any of the great breweries or beer bars that make Portland the best beer city in the world. His writing can also be found in the archives of Northwest Brewing News and can be followed on Twitter and Instagram at @hopapalooza.